Health department installs 24/7 Narcan dispensers

Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) announced August 13 a new program that will install overdose treatment dispensers throughout Whatcom County in attempt to combat the opioid crisis. 

The dispensers will have naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, which can restore breathing during an opioid overdose.

The first naloxone dispenser box is at Ferndale Community Services, 5694 2nd Avenue, with more boxes to be placed in the county. The WCHCS will select the locations for the remaining dispenser based on community needs and accessibility to vulnerable populations, the press release stated.

The naloxone dispenser boxes are intended to provide 24/7 access to naloxone for people without access to the treatment or who seek privacy to obtain it, according to WCHCS.

“Making naloxone readily available in public spaces is a critical step in our ongoing efforts to reduce opioid-related deaths in Whatcom County,” WCHCS health officer Dr. Amy Harley wrote in a statement. “These dispenser boxes ensure that community members have access to this lifesaving tool whenever and wherever it’s needed.”

Naloxone is safe to use, even when administered to someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, according to WCHCS.

For a list of resources to order free naloxone kits, visit whatcomoverdoseprevention.org.

Naloxone distribution and education event

The WCHCS will host an event to distribute and provide information on naloxone from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, August 30 outside of Bellingham City Hall, 210 Lottie Street. The event is in recognition of International Overdose Day.

WCHCS and EMS staff will teach attendees how to identify and respond to an overdose, use nasal naloxone, safely store naloxone and Good Samaritan laws. Participants will receive a free nasal Narcan kit while supplies last.

Opioid overdoses have increased in Whatcom County in recent years. Between 2020 and 2022, opioid overdose deaths among Whatcom County residents rose by 107 percent, and emergency department visits for opioid overdoses increased by 49 percent between 2022 and 2023, according to WCHCS.

“A few minutes of your time can mean a lifetime for someone else,” wrote Steven Cohen, EMS training specialist, in a statement. “Community awareness and Narcan training are important steps in creating a safer, more prepared community. Together, we can be the difference between life and death.”